AFTER EXPLAINING how to make tissue-paper caterpillars, parent volunteer Karen VandeMerkt asked the second-graders if they had any questions.
One pupil raised his hand and asked if he would get to do art that day.
"Sweetheart, you are going to do art all day today," VandeMerkt answered.
It was Rockburn Elementary School's first Art Day. The event, held on Thursday, was organized by the school's art teacher, Aileen Pugliese, in observance of Youth Art Month.
Pugliese planned art projects for each grade on themes related to the children's science or social studies lessons.
The theme for first-graders was Mexico; for second-graders, insects; for third-graders, Japan; and for fourth-graders, Maryland.
Fifth-graders made art based on the theme of the Westward movement in the United States.
Pugliese said she wanted "to enable students to express themselves with their own individuality." Toward that end, she recruited volunteers -- parents, staff, community members, college interns and students from Howard High School's Art Honor Society -- to lead art projects.
The honors students, all seniors, included Robyn Holl, Jenny Howard, Michael VanMeter, Jeff Corbett, Stacy Fulcher, Amber Wills, Matt Radar, Stacy Stickles, Megan Irwin, Emily Brown, Mike Smoot, Josh Sadowsky and Amy Pellak.
Robyn and Amber had not taught children before, although Amber often baby-sits. The two decided that they wanted to "do bugs" with the children.
So Robyn came as a "Doodle Bug." She had created antennae out of wire with Styrofoam balls that bobbed gently as she worked.
She and Amber helped the second-graders create three-dimensional insects out of cardboard.
Friends Josh Sadowsky and Michael Smoot decided to teach pendant-making with clay to the fifth-graders to reflect a Native American tradition.
Josh, who had worked as an instructional assistant in art classes at Howard High School, said he was surprised at how much easier it was to teach the younger pupils.
The third-graders made origami figures, kimonos and Japanese fans. They painted dragon forms and stylized Japanese images and learned about how the artist Vincent van Gogh had been influenced by Japanese art.
In the school's media center, volunteers led by Joanne Thomas served lunch and snacks to other volunteers.
The tables were decorated with centerpieces made by fifth-graders out of paint brushes, paper flowers and tissue-paper bumblebees, and large colored crayons made from papier-mache.
A pupil committee -- consisting of fifth-graders Bradley Pryor, Natalie Warren, Melissa Merritt, Jace VanRiper, Lauren Amott, Heather Romard and Khoi Ha -- met during lunch and recess in February and March to help organize the event.
VandeMerkt's daughter, Elly, a third-grader, cried when she got home because she had left her Japanese fan at the school. It was made of tongue depressors and paper painted with watercolors, VandeMerkt said.
The mother returned to the school to retrieve the fan so her daughter could show it to her father that evening.
PTA President Karen Vaughan said she was very impressed by the event and the way Pugliese organized the day's activities and volunteers.
Signs of spring
For the third year, Chris Robinson -- physical education teacher and girl's lacrosse coach at Mount Hebron High School -- has organized a spring lacrosse tournament.
This year's tournament features four nationally-ranked girl's high school teams. The teams will play from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. A championship game will be held at 3 p.m.
Young girls and their families are invited to see the high-caliber games.
Refreshments will be available. Call Robinson at 410-203-0006.
Congratulations
Trinity School's Grade 8 Boys basketball team closed its season undefeated.
They placed first in the St. Clement's Catholic Youth Organization league and in the Western Howard County league.
The team -- captain Sean Rozanski, Ryan Daniels, Sean Ivey, Michael Mianulli, Brendan O'Donnell, Kenneth O'Donnell, Christopher Oxenham, Aaron Tolentino and Justin Wheeler -- was coached by alumni parent Tommy Olds and parents Dan Cann and Brian Rozanski.
Congratulations also to Courtney Watts and Amanda Robbins, pupils at Ilchester Elementary School, who won first- and second place in the Maryland Instructional Computer Coordinators Association (MICCA) statewide computer-generated art and writing contest.
Both pupils wrote short stories.
Elkridge Landing Middle School pupils Meghan Sullivan and Jennifer German won first- and third prizes in MICCA's Grades 6-8 computer-generated art contest.
Artwork by four pupils from Deep Run Elementary School is on exhibit at the Howard County Central Library in honor of Youth Art Month.
Ryan Giannamore, Monika Acosta, Victor Limpawuchara and Savannah Smith -- congratulations to all of you.
Safety first
Members of the safety committee of the Centennial Lane Elementary School PTA, including parent Carol Wilkes, gave County Councilman Chris Merdon a walking tour of their neighborhood Thursday.
The committee was formed three years ago, when parents identified safety as their primary concern.
The PTA decided that sidewalks were needed; parents were concerned about the safety of children crossing the street and in the parking lot in front of the school.
The county has made a number of improvements. Now the committee is seeking additional sidewalks.
PTA President Cindy Feinstein and safety committee chairwoman Beth Smith have coordinated efforts to improve safety.
Information: Carol Wilkes, 410-465-8494.
Mazel tov
Mazel tov to all involved in Mount Hebron's production of the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof," last weekend -- especially to John Bruns, who played Tevye, the dairyman, with a wonderful flair.
The performances were compelling, the direction thoughtful, the music moving.
In a scene in which the cast sang a "Sabbath Prayer," the main characters acted out the Sabbath ritual on stage.
Other cast members, dressed as villagers, walked down the aisles into the audience holding lighted candles, creating small circles of community.
They sang slowly and clearly. The song ended with the words, "May God bless you and grant you long lives /Favor them, oh Lord, with happiness and peace. Oh, hear our Sabbath prayer. Amen."
Amen, indeed, as we celebrate Passover and Holy Week.
A correction
The phone number given for the American Cancer Society in last week's column was incorrect. The correct phone number is 410-418-8753.
Anne Dunn is community specialist for the Society's Howard County Chapter.
Pub Date: 3/29/99